Edexcel GCE Core Mathematics (C2)

Required Knowledge Information Sheet

Daniel Hammocks

C2 Formulae Given in Mathematical Formulae and Statistical Tables Booklet

Cosine Rule
o a2 = b2 + c2 2bc cosine (A)

Binomial Series
o ( + ) = +

an1 b +

where ( )

and

1+

= 1 + nx +

an2 bb2 + +

n
r

anr br + + bn

!
! !

1 2
1x2

n
2

+ +

1 nr+1 x r
1x 2x x r

< 1,

Logarithms and Exponentials

o =

Geometric Series
o = 1
o =
o =

(1 )
1

for < 1

Numerical Integration
o

Daniel Hammocks

1
2

0 + + 2(1 + 2 + + 1 )}, =

Algebra and Functions

If f(x) is a polynomial and f(a) = 0, then (x - a) is a factor of f(x)

If f(x) is a polynomial and f

If a polynomial f(x) is divided by (ax b) then the remainder is f

= 0, then (ax b) is a factor of f(x)

The Sine and Cosine Rule

The sine rule is:

o
o

sin
sin

sin

sin

You can use the sine rule to find an unknown side in a triangle if you know two
angles and the length of one of their opposite sides
You can use the sine rule to find an unknown angle in a triangle if you know the
lengths of two sides and one of their opposite angles
The cosine rule is:
o a2 = b2 + c2 2bc cos (A)
o b2 = a2 + c2 2ac cos (B)
o c2 = a2 + b2 2ab cos (C)
You can use the cosine rule to find an unknown side in a triangle if you know the
lengths of two sides and the angle between them
You can use the cosine rule to find an unknown angle if you know the lengths of all
three sides
The rearranged form of the cosine rule used to find an unknown angle is:
o =
o cos =
o cos =

= sin = sin

2 + 2 2
2
2 + 2 2
2
2 + 2
2

You can find the area of a triangle using the formula

1

o = 2 sin

Daniel Hammocks

If you know the length of two sides (a and b) and the value of the
angle C between them

Exponentials and Logarithms

A function y = ax, or f(x) = ax, where a is a constant, is called an exponential function

loga n = x means that ax = n, where a is called the base of the logarithm
loga 1 = 0
loga a = 1
log10 x is sometimes written as log x
The laws of logarithms are
o loga xy = loga x + loga y
(the multiplication law)
o loga

= loga x - loga y

o loga (x)k = k loga x

From the power law,
o loga

(the power law)

= - loga x

You can solve an equation such as ax = b by first taking logarithms (to base 10) of
each side
The change of base rule for logarithms can be written as:

o =

(the division law)

From the change of base rule:

1

o =

Daniel Hammocks

Coordinate Geometry in the (x, y) Plane

1 + 2 1 + 2
, 2
2

The mid-point of (x1 , y1) and (x2 , y2) is

The distance d between (x1 , y1) and (x2 , y2) is

d= [ 2 1

+ 2 1 2 ]

The equation of the circle centre (a, b) radius r is

( )2 + ( )2 = 2

A chord is a line that joins two points on the

circumference of a circle

The perpendicular from the centre of a circle to a chord

bisects the chord

The angle in a semi-circle is a right angle

A tangent is a line that meets the circle at one point only

The angle between a tangent and a radius is 90o

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The Binomial Expansion

You can use Pascals Triangle to multiply out a bracket

You can use combinations and factorial notation to help you expand binomial
expressions. For larger indices it is quicker than using Pascals Triangle
! = 1 2 3 3 2 1
The number of ways of choosing r items from a group of n items is written

or

The binomial expansion is:

n1
a b
1
1 2

o ( + ) = +

1+

= 1 + nx +

1x2

+ +

n n2 b2
a b + + nr
2
1 nr+1 x r
1x 2x x r

anr br + + bn

Radian Measure and its Applications

If the arc AB has length r, then AOB is 1 radian (1c or 1

rad)

A radian is the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc whose length is
equal to that of the radius of the circle

1 =

The length of an arc of a circle is l = r

The area of a sector is =

The area of a segment in a circle is = 2 2 ( sin )

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180

1
2

Geometric Sequences and Series

In a geometric series you get from one term to the next by multiplying by a constant
called the common ratio
The formula for the nth term = ar n-1 where a = the first term and r = the common
ratio
The formula for the sum to n terms is
o =
o =

(1 )
1
( 1)

or,

The sum to infinity exists if < 1 and is =

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Graphs of Trigonometric Functions

The x-y plane is divided into quadrants

For all values of , the definitions of Sin (), Cos () and Tan () are taken to be ...
where x and y are the coordinates of P and r is the radius of the circle
o sin =
o cos =
o tan =

A cast diagram tell you which angles are positive or negative for Sine, Cosine and
Tangent trigonometric functions:
o In the first quadrant, where is acute, All
trigonometric functions are positive
o In the second quadrant, where is obtuse,
only sine is positive
o In the third quadrant, where is reflex, 180o
< < 270o, only tangent is positive
o In the fourth quadrant where is reflex,
270o < < 360o, only cosine is positive
o
The trigonometric ratios of angles equally inclined to the horizontal are related :
o Sin (180 )o = Sin o
o Sin (180 + )o = - Sin o
o Sin (360 - )o = - Sin o
o Cos (180 - )o = - Cos o
o Cos (180 + )o = - Cos o
o Cos (360 - )o = Cos o
o Tan (180 - )o = - Tan o
o Tan (180 + )o = Tan o
o Tan (360 - )o = - Tan o

Daniel Hammocks

The trigonometric ratios of 30o, 45o and 60o have exact forms, given below:

30

45o
60o

Sine ()
1
2

Cosine ()

Tangent ()

3
2

2
2

2
2

3
2

1
2

3
3
1
3

The sine and cosine functions have a period of 360o, (or 2 radians). Periodic
properties are :
o Sin ( 360o) = Sin
o Cos ( 360o) = Cos
The tangent function has a period of 180o, (or radians). Periodic property is:
o Tan ( 180o) = Tan
Other useful properties are
o Sin ( - ) = - Sin
o Cos ( - ) = Cos
o Tan ( - ) = - Tan
o Sin (90o ) = Cos
o Cos (90o ) = Sin

Daniel Hammocks

Differentiation

For an increasing function f(x) in the interval (a, b), f(x) > 0 in the interval a x b
For a decreasing function f(x) in the interval (a, b), f(x) < 0 in the interval a x b
The points where f(x) stops increasing and begins to decrease are called maximum
points
The points where f(x) stops decreasing and begins to increase are called minimum
points
A point of inflection is a point where the gradient is at a maximum or minimum value
in the neighbourhood of the point
A stationary point is a point of zero gradient. It may be a maximum, a minimum or a
point of inflection
To find the coordinates of a stationary point:

o find (The gradient function)

o Solve the equation f(x) = 0 to find the value, or values, of x

o Substitute into y = f(x) to find the corresponding values of y
The stationary value of a function is the value of y at the stationary point. You can
sometimes use this to find the range of a function
You may determine the nature of a stationary point by using the second derivative

o If = 0 and 2 > 0, the point is a minimum point

o If = 0 and 2 <0, the point is a maximum point
o If = 0 and 2 = 0, the point is either a maximum, minimum, or point of
inflection

o If = 0 and 2 = 0, but 3 0, then the point is a point of inflection

In problems where you need to find the maximum or minimum value of a variable y,
first establish a formula for y in terms of x, then differentiate and put the derived
function equal to zero to then find x and then y

Daniel Hammocks

Trigonometrical Identities and Simple Equations

2 + = 1
A first solution of the equation Sin x = k is your calculator value, = Sin-1 k. A second
solution is (180o ), or ( ) if you are working in radians. Other solutions are
found by adding or subtracting multiples of 360o or 2 radians.
A first solution of the equation Cos x = k is your calculator value, = Cos-1 k. A second
solution is (360o ), or (2 ) if you are working in radians. Other solutions are
found by adding or subtracting multiples of 360o or 2 radians.
A first solution of the equation Tan x = k is your calculator value, = Tan-1 k. A second
solution is (180o + ), or ( + ) if you are working in radians. Other solutions are
found by adding or subtracting multiples of 180o or radians.

(providing Cos 0, when Tan is not defined)

Integration

The definite integral

The area beneath a curve with equation y = f(x) and

between the lines x =a and x = b is:
o

The area between a line (equation y1) and a curve

(equation y2) is given by:
o =

= ()

1, 2

The Trapezium rule is:

o

Daniel Hammocks

1
2

0 + + 2(1 + 2 + + 1 )}

and yi = f(a + ih)